Newsletter 22nd July 2022
Dear friends
Several months ago, at a chapter meeting of local clergy, we were invited to take responsibility for the Church of England’s national online service for two weeks’ time. Each one of us expressed scorn at the thought of putting something together for national consumption at such short notice. It transpired that a further possibility was that we could do something at the end of July instead. I blithely offered and heard no more about it. No more until last Thursday when I was prompted by the CofE’s digital officer that we only had a week to provide the said service. Many times, I have reflected on God’s sense of humour. Impossible to put a service together in just two weeks? Then try one week! I think the lesson is to teach me to rely on him rather than my own resources, but it would be wrong not to pay tribute to those who have come forward to help: Mark, Paul, Val (despite having Covid), Fran, the Pontesbury choir, the Minsterley choir, Robert, Mollie, Richard and Liz.
If you would like to see the fruit of our labours, visit https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online on July 31st.
Treasurer for Minsterley
We continue to look for a new treasurer for Minsterley. If you know of anyone, please let Greg know.
Richard Lonsdale
Richard may be contacted at richardlonsdale1@gmail.com or on 07922 830488. For now, his day off will be Wednesdays. Please respect this.
Hope/Shelve
The proposed merger of Hope and Shelve parishes has now entered its final stage of consultation. If you wish to raise any objections to this plan, there is a notice by the front door of each church detailing how to do this.
Foodbank Volunteers
A volunteers evening for potential foodbank volunteers was well attended last week. We should have sufficient volunteers to launch at Minsterley on Tuesday mornings and Pontesbury on Thursday mornings from mid-September. Full training will be provided over the summer. If you haven’t already signed up but are interested in helping, please speak to Greg.
Spring Harvest
We now have a viable group to take a party from Pontesbury & Stiperstones to Spring Harvest next Easter, April 10-14 in Minehead. We will be booking this at the end of July. Costs are £160 and up per person (with discounts for children) depending on the type of accommodation. The event provides worship, teaching and fellowship for all ages and has been a joyous and upbuilding time for every church I have attended. If you want to know more, speak to Greg or Fran. It will be possible to book a place later, but the early bird discount will be lost, and you may not be accommodated near others from the church.
Confirmation
St George’s is hosting a confirmation service on Sunday October 16th at 3 p.m. We have two candidates already wanting to be confirmed. Greg would be very pleased to hear from anyone else who would like to pursue this.
Organ Recital
There is a free organ recital at Holy Trinity Minsterley tomorrow, Saturday July 23rd at 11 a.m. with refreshments served from 10.15. The recital is being given by Richard Walker, FRCO, and will include the rededication of the newly restored organ.
Sponsored Walk
A sponsored walk along the Shropshire Way from Church Stretton to Stokesay (approximately 15 miles) is planned for Saturday Sept 24th. As last year, half the monies will go to the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust and half to our own churches. Let Greg know if you are interested in walking that day, even if it is only a short section of the route; and it would be good to have a couple of drivers to staff a support crew.
Group Service
Please note that there will be a Group Service at Holy Trinity Minsterley (not at Hope as previously advertised) on 31st July at 10.30 a.m. All warmly invited.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 22nd Prayer at HTM 9-10 a.m.
Choir Practice at HTM and St George’s
Sat 23rd Organ Recital at HTM at 11 a.m.
Sun 24th Morning Prayer at Hope at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury, Habberley & Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Mon 25th Installation of new heating system in Shelve commences
Tues 26th Oasis at Minsterley Methodist Chapel at 12
Explorers meet at Pontesford Hill carpark at 2 p.m.
Alpha week 11 at the Deanery at 7 p.m.
Weds 27th Café at HTM 10-12
Pontesbury PCC at 7 p.m.
Thurs 28th Men’s Group meet at the Pavilion 11-1 p.m.
Minsterley Finance Ctte at 2 p.m. at The Gables
Minsterley PCC at 7 p.m.
Sun 31st Group Service at Holy Trinity Minsterley
Afternoon Tea at St George’s at 3 p.m. (Cancelled : Ed webmaster)
